Variable speed mechanism



Oct. 29, 1935.

D. LOW

VARIABLE SPEED MECHANISM Filed April l2, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet l wlTNEssEy .e

ATTORNEYS 9 Oct. 29, 1935. D. LOW 2,019,424

VARIABLE SPEED MEcHANIs'M Filed April l2. 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 INVENTOR 9 N pand BY n ATTORNEY:

WITNESSES "f v WITNESSESY aylhl LOM W BY Oct. 1935. l D LOW I VARIABLE SPEED MECHANI SM INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Oct. 29, 1935. D. Low

VARIABLE SPEED MECHANISM Filed April 12, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l lNvENoR David Low WITNESSES ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE .VARIABLE SPEED MECHANISM iDavidLow, Asheville, N. C. ApplicationApril =.12, 1934, Serial No. 720,291

`16 Claims. '(Cl. 172-239) .This invention relates toa variable speed :mech- An object .of the .invention isthe lprovision 'of a variable speed mechanism `.and Ianautomatic device for l'controlling said mechanism, Awhereby the -.prime-,mover will be relievedof all load when the speedof the prime mover falls below a predetermined speed regardlebf-Whether thespeed reduction is caused vby V.increased .load or vdecreased power output.

`Another object of the invention is-the provision 0f anontrolling device for variable .speedmeeha- Dism `in which the variablefspeedmechanism is automatically vcontrolled .in such a .manner ,that the gear ratiobetween the prime ,-mover .and -its load Awill .be maintained at `all .ti-mes .at the most en'ective ratio for the amount of load and `the amountof .power Adeveloped i-n any instant.

Another object of .the invention is the provision of a variablespeed mechanism for transmitting .power from ,a drive shaft to a'driven shaft in which an `auto-matic regulator which -is operatedin accordance withfthe speed of the driven Shaft may -be instantly cut fout and any desired Speedratio lmay be obtained by hand control, the device being .so constructed that the hand lcontrol may be operated independently of the automatic control.

A further object Iof the invention is the provision cfa variable speedmechanism in which an electric control motor is Vemployed for rotating .thedrive-.shaft to start the prime mover with a clutch for vmaintaining .the gear ratio at l to 0 at ,the time ofstarting.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a variable speed mechanism. having .a .manual control .and an automatic control in `which the vautomatic and manual control are .adaptedto .place in operation va motor for controlling the connection ebetween the starting motor andthe -drive shaft, the first-mentioned mo- .torbeing operativeo'nly-during startingand stopping.

A still furtherobjectfof the invention is the provision of a variable speed mechanism controlled bya device .which in turn is controlled by a mechganism whichvis .operated in accordance with the speed-of the drive shaft.

'Ihe invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description,.in View of the accompanying drawingsforming ,a partof vthe specification; nevertheless, it is .tovbe mrderstood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and `modifications as Idefine vno 4material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a horizontal :plan view of a -variable speed mechanism constructed in accordance with 5 the principles of my invention,

Figure 2 is a Vertical section ofthe same,

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section,

Figure 4 is a side view in elevation of the variable speed mechanism, and l0 Figure 5 is an electric wiring diagram showing the circuits for the control of Ithe variable speed mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I0 designates a transmission housing through l5 which projects a drive shaft I I. This drive shaft is adapted to ble-connected to aprime mover such as an internal combustion engine (not shown) for operatingthe motor vehicle. This shaft extends inwardlyvof the housing and into an extension I2 20 of a differential casing I3, the ends of the housingfshown at E4 and I5 being mounted respectively in bearings I3 and I'I.

A gear 29 is located in the casing I3 and is keyed tothe shaft I-I. A similarly constructed gear 2| 25 is located diametrically opposite the gear 20 and is keyed to a shaft 22 supported by the en-d I5 of the casing I3. A countershaft 23 is disposed in a plane at right angles to the plane passing through the shaft H and is mounted in bearings in the 30 housing I3. Gears 24 and 25 are revolubly mounted Aon the shaft'25 and 'mesh with the gears 20 and 2 I.

A clutch member 25 formed integrally with the outer-end of the shaft 22 is adapted to operatively 35 engage a clutch member 2S on one end of the gear '27. 'I'he gear 2l is-slidably keyed upon a shaft 28. The last-mentioned shaft is driven by the shaft 22 through the clutch elements 25. The particular form of clutch member 25 is provided with an 40 external gear 29 which meshes with a gear 3) which in turn meshes with a gear 3i secured to a countershaft 32. A second gear33 is also secured to the shaft 32 and the gear 21 is adapted to be 45` moved into mesh with the gear 33 in any well known manner for providing a reverse drive on theshaft 28 since the direct drive between the shafts 22 and 28 is controlled by the clutch members 25 and 23 while the reverse drive is con- 50 trolled through the .transmission .gear 29, 3U and 3| `andthe gears`21,.33 when the clutch element 26 has .been released from the gear 25 and the gear 21 has been placed in mesh with thegear 33.

Theshaft 28 `may be considered the driven shaft 55 or the shaft which transmits motion to the rear wheels of the vehicle.

The electric motor 35 is connected to a shaft 36 extending through the housing I8 and has rigidly connected thereto a gear 31 meshing with a gear 38. The gear 38 is connected to a shaft 39 carrying a worm 48. This worm meshes with a Worm wheel 4| secured to the extension I2 of the casing I3 so that when the motor 35 is operated the casing I3 will be revolved in one direction only and the casing will be held stationary when the motor is stopped due to the fact that the pitch of the worm 48 is such that theworm will prevent rotation of the worm gear 4|.

'I'he electric motor 35 is employed as a starting motor and revolves gear 45 which meshes with a gear 46 having a braking face 41 adapted to be engaged by a braking disc 48. A disc 49 is keyed to the shaft II and engages a braking disc 58 which engages the opposite braking face of the gear 46. The disc 48 is carried by a collar 5| having a groove 52 so that when this collar is shifted to the left in Fig. l, the gear 46, which is ordinarily loose on the shaft II, will be locked to said shaft. The collar 5I is slidably keyed, as shown at 52a, on the shaft When the braking disc has been moved into operative relation with the gear 46 and the said gear is locked to the shaft II, motor 35 may revolve the shaft I| for starting the prime mover, `not shown. The gear 31 drives the gear 38, the worm 48, the Worm gear 4 I, and likewise the cage, or differential case I3 although the case is driven at one-half the speed of the shaft II. Thus no motion will be transmitted to the shaft 28 through the gears 28, 2|, 24, and 25 and the case I3. from the gear 46 said gear will revolve idly on the shaft I I when the motor 35 is being operated.

An electric motor 68, which I term the clutch motor in contradistinction to the gear or control motor 35, is adapted to revolve a gear 6| through a shaft 62. The gear 6|, which is driven in a counterclockwise direction, revolves a second gear 63 secured to a shaft 64. This shaft is provided with a worm 65 meshing with a wormI gear 66 which is driven in an anti-clockwise direction as shown by the arrow in Fig. 2.

The worm gear 66 is loose on a shaft 61. An arm 68 is rigidly connected with the shaft 61 as is a yolk 69. This yolk carries pins 18 which engage the groove 52 of the collar 5I. A pin 1I projects laterally from the worm gear 66 and engages the arm 68 for moving said arm to the left, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby rocking the arm 69 to the right and moving the clutch disc 48 away from the gear 46, thus disconnecting the gear 46 from the shaft I I.

A coil spring 12 has one end attached to the upper end of the arm 68 while the other end of the spring is connected to a screw 13 carried by a partition 14 of the housing I8. A nut 15 is adapted to longitudinally position the screw 13 of the casing for varying the tension on the spring 12.

In Fig. 3 it will be seen that the shaft 61 extends transversely of the housing I8 and is mounted in bearings 16 formed on the side walls of said housing.

The shaft 64, as shown more particularly in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, is threaded at 88 and receives a nut 8| which is maintained against rotation in any approved manner so that when the shaft 64 is revolved the nut will be moved longitudinally of the casing for operating either one of a pair of switches 82 and 83. For this purpose the nut As soon as the clutch disc 48 is released 8| is provided with an extension 84 carrying studs 85 and 86 adapted to respectively engage the movable switch arms 82 and 83 for a purpose which will be presently explained.

The shaft is provided with a worm gear 81 adapted to mesh with a worm 88 connected with shaft 89. This shaft carries a gear 98 in mesh with a gear 9| on a shaft 92.

A governor is operatively connected with the shaft 92 and this governor consists of a fixed col- 1 lar 93 and a movable collar 94.

A pair of arms 95 are pivotally connected with the collar 93 while a pair of arms 96 are pivotally connected with the collar 94. The inner ends of the arms 95 and 96 are pivotally connected at 91 1 with weights 98 which are adapted to swing outwardly from the shaft 92 and move the collar 94 to the left in Fig. 1 and towards the collar 93 when the shaft 92 is revolved at a predetermined speed, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. 2

A yoke |88 is connected to a sleeve I8I which ln turn is secured to the collar 94 so that asy the collar is reciprocated the yolk will likewise be reciprocated and reciprocate a cross head I 82. This cross head is connected at |83 with a link inthe i form of a turnbuckle |84 and the link is likewise connected at |85 to a plate |86 having connection with a movable arm |81 pivoted at |88 on a control board |89 which is secured to one side face of the housing i8. 1

A spring |I8 is connected at to the cross head |82 while the opposite end of the spring is carried by a bolt |I2 maintained in a predetermined position by a nut ||3 threaded onto the outer end of the bolt, said bolt passing through i a lug I I2a attached to the rear end wall of the housing I8.

The spring ||8 will tend to move the yoke |88 and likewise the collar 94 to the right, as shown in Fig. 2, and maintain the governor in an inoperative position after the speed of the. shaft 92 has been reduced sufficiently. A stop ||4 is threaded into a lug I I5 formed upon one face I6 of the housing I8. This bolt is adjustable in order to properly position the cross head when the governor is in inoperative position due to the action of the spring ||8.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 5, a pair of control boards |89 and |89a are provided over which are adapted to oscillate respective arms |81 and |819. The arm |81 is provided with contact plates ||5, ||6 and ||1. The plate ||5 is adapted to not only engage the contact plate I I8 on the board |89 but also the contacts |I9, |28 and a plurality of contacts I 2| which are connected with a plurality of resistance units |22. The contact plate ||6 is adapted to connect the plates |23 and |24 and also adapted to connect the plate |23 with the plate |25. The contact member II1 is adapted to connect the contacts |26 and |21 and a contact plate |28 likewise With contact plate |21. 'Ihe contact plates shown on the control board |89 are connected therewith in any approved manner. The control board |89 is supplied with a similar number of contacts and these contacts are all indicated by similar numerals in connection with the letter a. The control board |898L is provided with contact members |38 to |35, inclusive.

It will be noted that a space is provided between the series of contacts |38 to |35, inclusive, and the adjacently. disposed contacts on the control board |89a for a purpose which will be presently explained.

The movable arm |81, as shown in Fig. 4, is

z contact :|33 with the contact |23.

connects the l.contact |34 with the contact |21.`

nally controlled lmember 31.01a may be oscillated without in any way disturbing the automatic control of the .arm '|-0.'| vand vice versa.

Referring more particularlyto Fig. v :it will be seen'thatfa :battery |40 fis provided and is groundedat |4| and controlled by `a switch |142. Algenmtor .143 `ofthe usualtype isgrounded'at |44 and connected by a wire |'451andaswitch 1|42 tothe battery 140.

"The wires connecting the various contacts yof the-controlxboard |09 with the control :board |03 for alternate operation of the two controls will nombe described. y

.A wire |46 connects the contact plate |3'-'| 'with the contact plate |20. A wire "|41 connects the A wire |40 Contact .|35 is connected'tothe battery |140.

A wire |50 .connects the battery |40 through the switch-142 with the contacts IIB and this wire .is also connected by a wire |5| to the contact 418. The contact |23EL is connected by .a wire y|52 with the contact |32. A Wire |53 connecin :the contact :|a vwith the contact |30. A wire limanda wire |12 connect the contact |25EL with the contact |25. The wires |54 `and |;'|2 are .connected vto the reversing field |55 of "the motor 260 by means -of awire |56 and this `field is connectedbyrneans of a wire .|151 to a wire |518 which in turn is 'connected to the contact l|24, A wire connects the vcontact |26'il withfa switch element'lGl andawire |62 connects the Wire '|60 with the .contact 126. It will be noted that the wire |50 is extended and connected with the contact f|2|8 which is yconnected by contact v'member JMS with the contact ||i9. This ycontacts connected by a wire .|63 with a, starting switch |64. This starting switch is also `connected with vthe wire .M6 4and `with the contact |20.

A wire '|65 .connects the contact |1285 rwith .'a `switch element |66 which is adapted `to 'be engaged .by the movable arm 83 .of theswitc'h elementlfor :closing .a circuit whichwill oepresently described.

The 'wire |152 which connects vthe contacts |-32 with fthe contact |23n of the icontrol board 109 is connected by a wire |61 to the motor 60 which is grounded 'at |68. Y

.A |69 connects the Tieldcoil |55 v'of the motor-00 the movable `switch 4arm 32 while axwine "|10 isconnected to thewire |58 `which vin ftnrn Iisaconnected to the switch .arm 33. The/Wire IL10 is 'connected with the contact imember |24 of @the control board |09. It will be noted fthat kthe wire its 1s connected by a wir@ |111 with mecentact |28. A wire |12 connectsrthe wire |56 with the contact |25.

.A wire |13 lconnects the Wire |53 with a motor and this motor is connected with the ground, as shown at |14.

The arm |01a is rprovided with similarly posi- .tioned contact members .|.|5, v| I0a and |111.

.A Ybraking pedal |82 to which .is attached a .sliding .contact .|B.| will if depressed cause said contact to make connection with a .Ynxed vcontact plate 18| which through the wire |80 -ls connectedltofwire |113 .and any -of the fixed contacts `Ill'lc whichare .connected to various points of "the resistance |84 which is connected to Wire |813 `.to wire iandtherefore to contact vplates 5 Hi8 :and "|18". n

Operation of the brake pedal at'any time while the carisinmotion to produce a brakingeffect will start the `,control motor 35 or increase fits speed since the circuit is lcompleted tothe motor 10 upon the depression of -the pedal |82 throughthe battery |40, wires #|50 and |83, resistance |134, oneof the Iseries of plates |8|,\slidingcontact |8| xed plate |'8Ia and .wires |00 vand. |13 to vmotor 35-'and the ground |114. u

vThis willstartmotor35 and. give the same-effect to thecar as may be obtained usually by going :into lsecond gear on va hill except that with this mechanismthe -eifect `may be varied at the will` of Vthe operator. 20v

.rod |85 is connected with yan .accelerator pedal -(not shown) and with a cam member |186 which is `adapted to-engage a cam member i|f81 connected with one vend of a rod |88 slidably mounted in bearings 1.8.0. 'This rod is provided 25 with -a :toe |90 which is adapted to engage a finger |0I onthe cross head |02 for automatically moving the zarm r|01 across vcertain of vthe contacts on the control .board |08 for a purpose which will be ,presently explained. adA

'The operation of the "device is as follows: All of the parts-are shown tin an operative position. When the shaft is idling andthe arm |81EL is in engagement with contacts |30 to |35 the clutch member 48 is closed and remains closed 35v until the arm |'1 moves to the left and engages contacts .1| 23, |25 and contacts |28, |21, when the clutch member 48'opensformoves away from thezgea-r 46. .In other words, )the arm |01 l must he :in this gposition `in order .to Iprovide fior the and |10, through wire |46 fand yacross contacts Ult- '53| and v|30 @through wires |53 and .|13 .to the motor :35 vand to the ground `|14. The motor 35 will :thenbe revolvedfand the motor 60 will likewise beirevolved -in a manner to be explained.

Switch |42 is normally kept 'closed but may be 8i opened if it is VS.desired to operate .motor 35 -directly .from @the generator |43 without the battery'through lthe intermediary of wire |50, contacts 020, |48, |f|5,wire |46, contacts ||5a, |30 |3|, wire :l1-3 `and -the ground.

It ywill :be yborne in mind that when the vehicle has stopped, the :clutchfhas been moved to 4an yoperative ,position with respect to the gear 46 so that when `the motor .35 lis started the shaft will be connected -to the motor for direct oper- 05 ation and --the motor V50 is -only used at the time of the starting or stopping of the vehicle. In other words, the motor A60 is only employed for releasing the-clutch disc-48 and ythe engine when lthe vehicle -is started and for moving the clutch 'Lo disc back to dan operative position with `thegear v46 when the vehicle has stopped.

.Referring to Fig. 5 it Will be seen that kthe movable vContact arm .32 is in contact with the member .|6I yfor starting the `motor :60. When u.

the motor is started and the arms |01 and |01 are in the proper position for starting as previously described, current will flow from the battery through the lwire |40ab to the contacts |35, II1, |34, wire |48, contact |21, contact |I1, contact |26, wires |62 and |60, switch elements IGI, 82, wire |69, through the reversing eld coil |55, wires |51, |10, contacts |24, I|6 and |23, through wire |41, contact |33, H6, |32, wire |61, through the armature of the motor to the ground |68, thereby completing the circuit to the motor 60 and this motor will run in the proper direction to close the clutch and so that the nut 8| will be moved-to the right in Fig. 5 and the bolt 85 will engage the arm 82 and open the circuit to the motor 60 and thus stop said motor and when'the clutch is closed.

The shaft 62 will revolve through the motor 60 and rotate the shaft 64, the worm 65 and the Worm gear 66 with the worm gear being revolved in the opposite direction from the arrow indicated in Fig. 2. When this occurs the pin 1I will move away from the arm 68 to permit the spring 12 to move the arm to the right in Fig. 2

- and the arm 69 to the left, thereby moving the 'i the arm 82 and opens the switch, thereby breaking' the circuit to the motor 60 while permitting the arm 83 to be moved into engagement with the contact member |66.

As soon as the power plant begins to operate under it own power, the shaft II will be driven by the power plant and in the same direction as the rotating motor 35. When the shaft has reached a predetermined speed, the governor will be operated and cause the weights 98 to be moved outwardly, whereby the cross head |02 will through the link |04 pull on the arm |01 and move it to a position where the contact II5 will bridge the contacts |20 and IIB while the contacts |I6 and |I1 will be in alignment with the space between the contacts |24, |25, |26, and |28.

` maintained in operation.

As the engine speeds, however, due to the opening of the throttle, the increased speed of shaft I is transmitted to the governor shaft and the governor moves the arm |01 to the left in if Fig. 5 so that the contact I5 will bridge the contacts |20 and I2I, thereby maintaining the circuit to motor 35 closed. Further movement to the left will cause contact |I6 to bridge contacts |23 and |25 and contact ||1 to bridge |21 and |28 completing the circuit to motor 60 so that it will operate in such a manner to give a reverse motion to shaft 64 and the worm gear 66 so that the pin 1| will engage the arm 68 and release the clutch disc 48 so that the motor 35 is disconnected from the shaft II. When this occurs the nut 6I is moved from its last position and the circuit through the movable member 83 and the switch element I6 will be broken to the motor, thereby causing stoppage of the motor 60 and the clutch is retained in released position due to the fact that the worm 65 locks the Worm gear 66 against reverse rotation.

The function of the cam devices |86, |81 and |90 is to provide for a more positive action during starting since the operation of these cams by means of the accelerator pedal will move arm |01 through several positions of the contacts on control board |09 without waiting for the action of the governor. The principal use, however, of the cam control is to eliminate the need for close 1 adjustment.

As the engine speeds up and the shaft II has an increased speed of rotation, the arm |01 is moved far to the left in Fig. 5 so that contact II5 4bridges successively the contacts I2I and] II8 thereby still maintaining the circuit closed. to the motor 35 but since the current is reduced by the successive resistances |22, the speed of the motor 35 will be reduced and therefore the differential casing I3 to provide the intermediate! speeds between low and high speeds. As the. speed of casing I3 is gradually reduced, each successive reduction increases the diierence between one-half the speed of shaft II and the speed of casing I3 which causes the speed of i the driven shaft 22 to increase in its relation to the speed of the driving shaft II with each successive step and gradually approach a speed ratio of l to l between the driving and driven shafts.

When the last contact I2| is reached by theI arm |01 the current to the motor 35 passes through all the sections of the resistance |22 and the speed of the motor has been greatly reduced. This reduces the speed of the casing I3 to a very low point and the speed ratio between the drive I shaft I I and the driven shaft 22 approaches very close to l to 1. When the arm |01 reaches its extreme left hand position, all circuits are open .and the motor 35 stops and the speed ratio will be 1 to l. This condition will be maintained as long 4 as the casing I3 is held against rotation and this is regardless of the increased speed of revolution of the shaft I I.

The contacts |21 and |28 are bridged during `this time by the contacts |I1 of the arm |01 and the contacts |25 and |23 are bridged by the contact I6. The first-mentioned contacts close the portion of the circuit to the motor 60 while the bridging contacts |25, |23 are in the circuit with the switch elements 83 and |66. 'I'hus it will be I seen that the arrangement of the circuit is such in connection with the various contacts that the motor 60 is adapted to be operated for operating clutch disc 48 to either close or open the same, depending upon the conditions of the operation of l the engine.

When the speed of the engine is reduced to below what I term the high gear ratio speed, the governor loses speed and power and spring I|0 will move the arms of the governor towards the inward position and therefore the arm |01 will move towards its normal inoperative position and the reverse sequence of events will be had. As the speed of the engine continues to reduce and the arm |01 moves to the right, moto-r 35 is started as contact II5 again bridges contacts II8 and I2I and as further movement successively cuts out sections of resistance |22 the speed of motor 35 increases bringing the speed of casing I3 closer to one-half that of shaft I I and lowering the speed of the driven shaft in relation to the speed of the driving shaft. When arm |01 reaches the point where the member I I5 bridges the contacts I I8 and I 20, the speed of the case I3 is very close to one-half the speed of shaft II and speed of shaft.' 2! is verylow; Still furthery movementv to thcrrighti causes contact H8` to bridge. contacts iimdc In, anda-contact. H51 to bridge contacts M andi. IZla causing motor iltofstart in the' .I proper direction of rotation to close the clutch. Whei. the clutch;l closes', the; mechanical drive sovemsthe speed of casing.` I3` so. that it must bnfexactly'or-half'ofthe speed ofv shaft IIV and tu* e stops'. Still: further movement'. of

l if brings contact Ilal onto. contact H9 which: acts as ai blank (when starting switch. is mail disconnecting motor` 35 which continues to be miecliaiziitialhr driven as long as: engine. re.- mina. atidlingr speed;

I When. the motor'vehi'cle. is standingk stillv and the maine is. running at idling'speed, thel parts an souarranged. that. the. shaft il; through the ehm; and; gearsy 4B and 45. will drive shaft 3S, also the electrically disconnected motor 35 at D afspced drive. thediiferentialcase I3,

I' the army H21s must. register with. these'. radially alignedcontaets when. the automatic device is:y in mention.

'mmspace between theradially aligned contacts Idil to Ni. inclusive, and the nextl succeeding a grompiof. contacts on the. control board |09a pro'- vides a neutral point for the arm Ill'la wherebythe amniotic control panel will be 'disconnected when thc-manuallyfofpcrated devicefis .being employed.

Anillas been.. previously described, ther contacts n im. III# and the co-ordinated contacts below me: mst-mentioned' contacts are all connected with-similarly numbered contacts on the: control boardi |09 so that when the yarms are.. moved in the simiov direction identicall results will be had ils' the' control of the differential.

1".. Inra variable speed mechanism, ardrive shaft and. ardriven shaft, a differential connecting said shafts, a. casing. enclosing the differential and M connected therewith, an electric control motor, means-:operatively connecting the motor withV the easing'so that the casing may be revolved by the motor at a less speed than the driving shaft, means fol-causing a gradually decreasing speed nl ofthcmotor and likewise thefcasing for causing sgradlmlilyincreasing speed of the driven shaft, andi means including a second motor for causing the insti-mentioned motor to be disconnected from.' or with the drive shaft.

n 2. In avariable speed mechanism, a drive dhft, a.: driven shaft, a differential connecting the drlwshaft with' the driven-shaft, mea-ns forv causing the dierential to provide a variable speed betweenthe drive shaft and the driven shaft,

65 and including' acasing housing said differential andi connected to an element of the differential, anI electric control motor, means operatively connecting the motor with the casing, and means for causing the speed ofA the motor to decrease in ac- 'm' cordance with an increase of speed of the drive shaft for causing the differential and casing to rotate the driven shaft from the drive shaft.

3. 1n ai variable speed mechanism, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, a differential connecting 76 me drive shaft with the driven shaft, means for causing the differential to provide a variable speed between the driveishaft andthe driven shaftarid including' a casing. housingf said differential and connected to an element of the differential, an

electric: control motor, means operatively con- 5 necting; the motor- With the.- casing, meazns-r for causing the speed.. of; the motor to decrease in. acicordance with anV increase of speed' of the drive shaft'- for` causing the differential and casing to rotate the driven shaft from the drive shaft, m means for. operatively connectingthe motor: to the drive shaft, and. means for causing: the last-mentioned means` to.K be. moved to; an inoperative position when a predetermined speed. ofv the drive shaft has been reached.. mi

4.. Ina variable speed: mechanism, a drivev shaft,

a driven shaft, a. differential connecting the drive. shaft with the driven shaft, means for/causing the differential. to provide a variable speed between the drive shaft and the driven. shaft, and 20;' including a casingt housing said differenti-a1 and connected; to. an element of; thel differential, an electric control motor, means operativelyk connectingv the motor` with the casing, means for causing. the speed ofthe motor to decrease in. ac- 21's cordancef with anv increase of speed. of the drive shaft for causing the differential and casing to rotate the driven shaft from the drive shaft, means for operatively' connecting. the. motor to the drive shafty or' disconnecting the motor from 30- the drive shaft, and an electric motor for controlling; the operation of the last. mentioned means at a predetermined. speed of the drive shaft.

5., In: a variable speed mechanism, a drive shaft, a driven shaft a differential connecting 32E the drive. shaft: with the driven shaft', means for causingV the differential to provide a variable speed between thev` drive shaft.. and driven shaft and comprising a revolving means carrying an element of the transmission and adaptedto be ro- 4g. tated at a different speed from the drive shaft, an elec-tric control motor, means operativelyiconnecting. they control motor with the revolving means, means.` including a second motor for disconnecting and connecting the control motor with 45 the drive. shaft, means for controlling the last mentioned means, and. meansr operativelyA connected with the controlling means. for co-ntrolling the speed of the. motor control'.

6. In a, variable speedA mechanism, a drive Eil!-` shaft, a driven shaft, a differential including a casingA connecting said shafts, a motor for causing rotation of theacasing at variable speeds relative to the drive shaft for causing relative speeds betweenthe drieve'and driven shafts, a governor driveny by theV drive shaft, an electric circuit including a multi-stage resistor and the motor and. a movable means for the resistor: connected with the governor for progressively cutting down the current to themotor and decreasing the speed 6m of rotation of the casing. as the speed of rotation of the drive shaft is increased.

7. In a variable speed mechanism, a drive shaft,

a driven shaft, a. differential including. a casing connecting said shafts, aV motor for causing romi tation of the casing at variable speeds relative to the drive shaft for causing relative speeds between the drive. and driven shafts, a governor op.- erated` by the drive shaft, an electric circuit including a'multil-stage resistor'and the motor and TU movablev means actuated by the governor andcooperating with the resistor for varying the current to the motor.

8. In a variable speed mechanism, a drive shaft,

a driven shaft, a differential including a casing 75 connecting said shafts, a motor for causing rotation of the casing at variable speeds relative to the drive shaft for causing relative speeds between the drive and driven shafts, a govemor operated by the drive shaft, an electric circuit including a multi-stage resistor and the motor, a movable means actuated by the governor and cooperating With the resistor for varying the current to the motor, a clutch for connecting the motor to the drive shaft temporarily, and means for controlling the movements of the clutch.

9. In a variable speed mechanism, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, a differential including a casing connecting said shafts, a motor for causing rotation of the casing at variable speeds relativeto the drive shaft for causing relative speeds between the drive and driven shafts, a governor operated by the drive shaft, an electric circuit including a multi-stage resistor and the motor, a movable means actuated by the governor and cooperating with the resistor for varying the current to the motor, a clutch for connecting or disconnecting the motor from the drive shaft, a clutch motor for moving the clutch to open position, an open circuit including the clutch motor, a pair of switches cooperating to close the circuit, and means operated by the clutch motor for controlling one of the switches, and a movable arm connected to the governor for controlling the remaining switch to complete closing of the circuit.

10. In a variable speed mechanism, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, a differential including a casing connecting said shafts, an electric motor for causing rotation of the casing at variable speeds relative to the drive shaft for causing relative speeds between the drive and driven shafts, a governor operated by the drive shaft, a

, starting switch, a controlling switch, an electric circuit including the motor, the starting switch and the controlling switch, the last mentioned switch including a movable arm connected to the governor, a plurality of contacts adapted to be bridged by the movable arm and included in the circuit so that when the controlling switch and starting switch are closed the circuit to the motor will be closed, and means for causing the motor to be temporarily connected with the drive shaft to cause rotation of said shaft.

11. In a variable speed mechanism, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, a differential including a casing connecting said shafts, a motor for causing rotation of the casing at variable speeds relative to the drive shaft for causing relative speeds between the drive and driven shafts, a

Agovernor operated by the drive shaft, a variable resistor, an electric circuit including the motor and the resistor, a movable means connected to the governor for controlling the variable resistor for causing a reduction in the speed of the motor in accordance with an increase of speed of the drive shaft, and means for causing the motor to be connected to or disconnected from the drive shaft.

12. In a variable speed mechanism, a drive. shaft, a driven shaft, a differential including a casing connecting said shafts, a motor for causing rotation of the casing at variable speeds relative to the drive shaft for causing relative speeds between the drive and driven shafts, a

governor operated by the drive shaft, a movable means connected with the governor, and means controlled by the movable means for causing a decrease of speed of the motor when the speed of the drive shaft is increased. L

13. In a variable speed mechanism, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, a differential including a casing connecting said shafts, a motor for causing rotation of the casing at variable speeds relative to the drive shaft for causing relative speeds between the drive and driven shafts, a governor operated by the drive shaft, an electric circuit including the motor, an arm actuated by the governor and means controlled by the'actuation of the arm for varying the current to the motor for varying the speed of the casing relative to the drive shaft, and a manually operated switch cooperating with the movable arm for maintaining' the circuit closed.

14. In a variable speed mechanism, a drive shaft and a driven shaft, a differential connecting said shafts, a casing enclosing the differential and connected therewith, an electric control motor, means operatively connecting the motor with the casing so that the casing may be revolved by the motor at a less speed than the driving shaft, means for causing a gradually decreasing speed of the motor and likewise the casing for causing a gradually increasing speed ofthe driven shaft, means included in the operative connections between the motor and casing for retaining the casing stationary vwhen idle, and means including a second electric motor for causing the first-mentioned motor to be disconnected from or connected with the drive shaft.

15. In a variable speed mechanism, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, a dierential connecting the drive shaft with the driven shaft, means for causing the differential to provide a variable speed between the drive, shaft and the driven shaft, and including a casing housing said differential and connected to an element of the differential, an electric control motor, means operatively connecting the motor with the casing, means for causing the speed of the motor to decrease in accordance with an increase of speed of the drive shaft for causing the differential and casing to rotate the driven shaft from the drive shaft, an accelerator pedal, means actuated by said pedal for causing a decrease of speed of the motor and casing in advance of the action `of the last-mentioned means.

16. In a variable speed mechanism, Va drive shaft, a driven shaft, a differential connecting the drive Ashaft with the driven shaft, means for causing the differential to provide a variable speed between the drive shaft and the driven shaft, and including a casing housing said differential and connected to an element of the differential, an electric control motor, means operatively connecting the motor with the casing, means for causing the speed of the motor to decrease in accordance with an increase of speed of the drive shaft for causing the differential and casing to rotate the driven shaft from the drive shaft, a brake pedal, a switch actuated by the said pedal for closing a circuit to the control motor for increasing the speed of the motor and likewise the casing. v

DAVID LOW. 

